Third by Portishead

[PassivePretentiousness]

Has anyone else heard it? I got around to buying it Saturday and it's pretty delicious, favorite track being The Rip. The synth stuff has really mature from the subtle Dummy and the heavy handed self-titled second album.

the neat vocal electronic trick in the rip and the cut-off ending in silence are awesome because they are ridiculously pretentious.

[Moseph]

I had no idea that they'd finally finished this album. Thanks for bringing this to my attention.

[djpretzel]

I had no idea that they'd finally finished this album. Thanks for bringing this to my attention.

I actually found out it was nearing release from (gasp!) an online ad on last.fm...

Haven't heard it yet, but will take a listen tonight and see what I think...

[ILLiterate]

Machine Gun was a really weird single, but they achieved their goal in that song perfectly by making a very soulless piece of music. Portishead inspired the Silent Hill series' sound and you can tell why, Dummy is still one of my favorites

Will have to listen to the rest of this

[The Green Tentacle]

Thank you for the information. I've been craving a new CD and had just been thinking it would be nice to hear something new from them.

Oh, to be looking forward to something again!

[Monobrow]

Portishead is basically great, i.e. Roads...

So I will definitely check this out.

[FiremanJoe]

Portishead is basically great, i.e. Roads...

So I will definitely check this out.

Roads is quite possibly my favourite song. Ever.

I bought Third almost as soon as it came out (been waiting a lonnng time for it) and I'm still feeling ambivalent about it. It's a good album, but deep down I was hoping for a 'direct sequel' to Dummy and Portishead... this feels like a side-story. Don't get me wrong, it is good, but it takes a few listens to really get into.

[bucky o'hare]

I like this album. While it may not be as catchy as some of their older stuff, it has a great atmosphere to it.

The ending section of Machine Gun is a highlight for me... gotta love that evil, vintage sounding synth line.

[djpretzel]

Not my cup of tea; with both their second and now third album as well, they seem intent on squashing the style/execution laid down in Dummy and embarking on some (imo silly) quest to prove that they have more substance/soul/whatever.

Dummy was a great album. It virtually established an entire genre, and remains probably the best example of that genre taking song form in a fashion that was accessible without being too familiar. That they seem so intent on moving away from it to me seems rather juvenile, actually, as if they feel they have something to prove.

I can't argue that the album achieves an atmosphere, and if that's what they're intent on doing, they've accomplished that goal at least. But my appreciation for the band always stemmed from the way they combined both atmosphere AND songwriting, and in my opinion, the songwriting here has been relegated to third-class status and sent to the back of the bus.